Manicuring instrument



Dec. 29, 1959 M, PESKQ 2,918,924

MANICURING INSTRUMENT Filed Maren 4, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTOPAEY Dec. 29, 1959 M. PEsKo 2,913,924

MANICURING INSTRUMENT Filed March 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mVENToR. M AR! A PE S KO BYBQ ATTOP/VZ'Y United States. Patent O MANICURING INSTRUMENT Maria Pesko, New York, N.Y.

Application March 4, 1958, Serial No. 719,018

1 Claim. (Cl. 132-75.4)

Thisinventionrelates generally tomanicuring implements, and more particularly has reference to a small hand tool designed for use in pushing back and cutting away the cuticle.

The main object ofthe present invention is to provide a generally improved manicuring implement of the character described. To this end, the invention, in one formy thereof, comprises a double-ended tool, one end of which has a cuticle pushingknife, with the otherend having a novelly shaped cutter for removing the cuticle, after it has been pushed back and freed sufficiently-to permit the cutting action.

Another object, in another form of the invention, is to provide a tool which will be readily formed from a plurality of comparatively inexpensive pieces, swiftly and easily assembled to provide the completed manicuring aid.

Still another object is to provide a tool which, in yet another form, will be` of a foldable construction, so that the twonovelly shaped knives can be swiftly and easily folded into a recessed, inoperative position when not in use.

Still another form will be of the single-ended type, but will have, at opposite sides of the cuticle-removing knife, specially shaped, knife-like blades or teeth that will serve in pushing back the cuticle.

For furtherV comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a manicuring implement according tothe present invention, a portion being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the implement on a reduced scale. i i

Fig. 3 isY an elevational view of the cuticle-removing knife, as seen from the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the scale being enlarged above that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, the scale being enlarged above that of Fig. 3, taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 4, taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 4, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 3, taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view, the scale being enlarged above that ofV Fig. 3, showing the cuticle-removing knife as seen from the right of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 isf an enlarged, transverse sectional view through the cuticle-pushing knife, substantially on line' 9 9v of.

Fig. 1.

2,918,924 Baterrted Dec. 2,9, 1959 r* Ance Fig. 10. is a' greatly enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the implement shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, on the same scale as Fig. l0, of the implement shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 12.is a side elevational view of the modified construction.

Fig. 13 is a View of the device shown in Fig. 12, taken substantially on line 13 13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view, a portion being broken away, of another modification showing a foldable implement.

Fig. 15 is a top plan View of the modification shown in Fig. 14, the knives beng'shown in their operative and inoperative positions in full and dotted lines respectively.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of still another modification.

Fig. 17 is a tranverse sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 17-17 of Fig. 16.V

Fig. 18 is a still further enlarged, fragmentary edge elevational view on the device shown in Fig. 16, as seen from line 18-18 of Fig. 16.

Referringto the drawings in detail, in the form ofthe invention shown in Figs. 1-11, the manicuring implement 10 constituting the present invention includes a handle 12 of at, elongated, generally rectangular configuration, said handle comprising a pair of identical side plates- 14 between which is interposed the intermediate portion of' anelongated, one-piece knife member 16, having longitudinally spaced openings registered with corresponding openings of plates 144toV receive rivets 18. In this way, the knife` member 16 is ixedly secured to and between the plates 14, intermediate the opposite ends-of the` implement.

The knife member 16 projects at its opposite ends beyond the opposite extremities of the handle- 12, and one end portion ofthe knife member is formed as a cuticle pushing knife, while the other end portion is formed as a cuticle pushing andI removal knife of a different shape.

The first-named end portion comprises a blade 20, having avlongitudinally, gently curved back edge 21, the curvature of which Vis continuous from end to endY thereof. The other longitudinal edgeof blade 20 is sharpened to provide a cutting edge 22, the inner end of which terminates at they outer end of an arcuate recess 24 that extends fully to the adjacent end of the handle', The arcuate recess 24 may receivea linger of a hand that is grasping the tool, to more accurately guide the blade 20.

Alternatively,ysaid recess 24 may provide clearance during the cutting and pushing operations, to prevent ones finger from interfering with free movement of the longitudinal cutting edge 22 while said edge is cutting along or-is pushing a cuticle at the side of a fingernail.

The curved edge 21 meets with the straight, sharpened edge 22 at the outer extremity of the blade element 20, and at this location is sharpened as at26 to provide an` end cutting edge.

At the opposite end of the knife member 16, there is provided a tapering combination cuticle pushing and removing blade 28. This is symmetrically shaped, that. is, both longitudinal edges of the blade 25 are symmetrically disposed in respect to the longitudinal center line of the blade 28, and extend in converging relation in a direction outwardly from the adjacent end of-the handle 12.

The blade 28, at its distal end, is integrally formed with` a pair of elongated wings 30 symmetrically disposed in respect to and at opposite sides of an elongated, longitudinal groove 32 that extends from the distal extremity of the blade 28 to a location inwardly 'a short distance from the inner ends of the wings 3 0, in'V the .sensei of a' directionlongitudinally of the blade 2S.

longitudinal cdges 34 that diverge in a direction away from the handle 12, said outer longitudinal edges 34 being quite thin so as to be almost a fully sharpened cutting edge. The edges 34, in fact, can and do serve as a cutting edge, in cutting away the cuticle.

Wings 30, as will be noted from Fig. 3, are progressively reduced in width in a direction away from the handle 12, due to the fact that the longitudinal edges 34 thereof diverge from the longitudinally and centrally extending, straight groove 32 in a direction away from said handle 12. At their larger ends, wings 30 are formed with rounded noses 36, the edges of which are sharpened as at 3S. The inner edges of the noses converge in a direction toward the handle, producing a V-shaped recess with the groove 32 opening at its outer end at the base or inner end of the recess 40.

The wings 30 are both disposed at the same side of the plane of the tapered body portion 41 of the blade 28, and in practice, have been found to have a particular shape, at the nose ends thereof and at their outer longitudinal edges, that is especially effective in cutting away the cuticle after the cuticle has been pushed back and freed by means of the pushing knife 20.

In cross section, the wings are adapted to dene a V-shaped outer end portion on the blade 2S, which as previously mentioned is disposed at one side of the plane of the body portion 41 of the blade (see Fig. 4).

Said V-shaped portion has its apex occurring in said plane, and the particular shape of this end portion, considered both in the sense of the direction of its length and in the sense of its cross-sectional shape, these being shown respectively in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 6, has been found to produce results not previously achieved in knives devised for substantially the same purpose.

To further add to the versatility of the tool, one longitudinal edge 42 of the elongated knife member 16 is projected laterally outwardly a short distance beyond the adjacent longitudinal edges of the plates 14 (see Figs. 1() and ll). This edge of the knife member is provided with serrations or crossing cuts, producing a knurling or roughening that defines a le surface adapted to facilitate tiling of the nails.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in Figs. l2 and 13, in this form the tool has been generally designated at 44, and includes a handle 46. The tool in this form does not have a one-piece knife member. Rather, the blades are separate pieces, attached to opposite ends of the handle 46.

The handle 46 has a flat body portion 48, which may be of molded plastic or the like, said body portion being integral at its opposite ends with thickened end portions 50, S2, respectively. Formed in the end portions 50, 52 are slots 54, 56 opening upon the distal extremities of said end portions. In opposite walls of the respective slots there are formed openings, receiving rivets 58, which secure the blades xedly within the respective slots.

One of the blades has been designated at 60, and has a projecting portion similar in configuration and function to the blade 20. Blade 60, thus, has a curved back edge 61, intersecting a straight cutting edge 62 at the distal extremity of the blade 60, with an arcuate recess 64 being formed in the blade at the inner end of the cutting edge 62.

One longitudinal edge of blade 60 is provided with a file surface 66 projected laterally outwardly a short distance beyond the adjacent edge of the handle (see Fig. 12).

The other blade 63 is identical in form and function to the blade 28. Thus, it has a body portion 69 of planiform formation, the opposite longitudinal edges of which converge in a direction away from the handle, the body portion also having, as an inner extension of one of the convergent edges, a le surface 70.

At its other end, body portion 69 is integral. with i wings 72 completely identical in shape and arrangement to the wings 30.

In Figs. 14 and l5, thereis shown another modification, wherein the manicuring implement is of the collapsible, double-ended type. In this form, the implement has been generally designated at 74, and includes a handle 76 composed of identical, transversely spaced, flat side plates 73 formed with rounded ends. In one longitudinal edge of the plates 78 there are formed fingernail-receiving recesses S0, 82. These are for the purpose of permitting one to grasp the blades, when the blades are in their folded positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, should one desire to swing the blades toward the use positions shown in full lines in Fig. 15.

Transversely aligned openings are formed in the rounded ends of the plates, the openings receiving rivets 84. One rivet 84 connects to the handle a combination cuticle pushing and removing blade 86, having wings 8g at its outer end, said blade 86 being identical to the blade 23 having wings 30, so far as the projecting portion of the blade is concerned.

The proximal end of the blade S6 is rounded, being curved about the center defined by the rivet 84. Said proximal end has been designated at 89, and as will be noted from Fig. l5, is substantially greater in thickness than the thickness of the body portion S7 of blade 86.

Thus, blade 86, at its proximal end, has a thick, flat, circular portion the opposite faces of which are in contact with the inner surfaces of the side plates 78. Further, as will be seen from Fig. l5, blade 86 has its body portion 87 at one side of the portion 89, that is, body portion 87 has one face thereof coplanar with the corresponding face of the enlarged or thickened inner portion 89.

The result is that when the blade 86 is swung from its use position shown in full lines in Fig. l5 to its inoperative, recessed position shown in dotted lines of the same figure of the drawing, the body portion 87 and the wings 88 will be disposed against one of the plates 78, in spaced relation to the other plate 78.

This is for the purpose of permitting room between the plates for the knives, so that the cuticle pushing knife 90 is disposed in side-by-side relation to the knife $6 when said knives or blades are in their collapsed position.

The knife blade 90 has a projecting portion identical in every respect to the projecting part of the blade 20, that is, it has a back edge 91 that is curved from end to end, a straight cutting edge 92, and an arcuate recess 94 at the inner extremity of the cutting edge 92.

A thickened inner portion 95 is formed on the blade 90, with one face of the portion 95 being coplanar with the corresponding face of the body part of the blade 90. As will be noted, these coplanar faces are opposite from the coplanar faces of the portion 89 and blade 86, so that the blades will not swing in a common plane and will not interfere with one another during their movement between recessed and operative positions.

To limit swinging movement of the blades beyond their use positions, the opposite extremities of the respective plates 78 are formed with laterally inwardly projecting abutments 96, 98 engageable by lugs 100, 101 of the respective blades 86, 90.

In Figs. 16-18, there is shown another modified form generally designated at 102. This includes a handle 104 that comprises identical side plates 106 having rounded ends.

Transversely aligned openings are formed in the end portions of the plates 106, receiving rivets 108 that extend also through openings formed in the proximal end portion of a knife member 109. Knife member 109, at said proximal end portion thereof, completely fills the space between the plates 106.

The knife member 109 has a distal end portion that projects beyond one end of the handle 104, providing a combination euticle pushing and removal blade 110, shaped identically to the blade 28 of the rst form of the invention, Thus, blade 110 has wings 111 identical to the wings 30.

In this form of the invention, pushing and cutting operations can be carried out through the use of a pair of laterally, outwardly projecting, triangular blade elements or teeth 112. These are progressively reduced in thickness in a direction outwardly from the body portion of the blade 110, adjacent the wider end of the blade 110. Further, they are progressively reduced in width in a direction laterally outwardly from the blade 110, producing sharp, pointed extremities on the blade elements, designed to facilitate pushing back and cutting of a cuticle. One longitudinal edge of knife member 109 is serrated as indicated at 114 for nail filing purposes.

This form of the invention comprises a single-ended implement, rather than a double-ended instrument as previously described in respect to Figs. 1-15. However, the implement still is adapted to produce a novel action resulting from the particular shape of the respective blades.

Further, in all forms of the invention the implement can be manufactured at a very low cost, and is a highly compact device capable of storage in a very small place, as for example, in a small area in a purse.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A manicuring instrument for pushing and removing cuticle, comprising a at handle having a at blade at one end, said blade having longitudinal edg converging in a direction outwardly from the handle toward the longitudinal axis thereof, said blade at its distal end being integrally formed with a pair of elongated wings, there being an elongated longitudinal groove located at the distal end of said axis, said wings being disposed symmetrically with respect to and on opposite sides of said groove and having right-angled V-shaped cross sections at all sections taken through said groove, said wings having outer longitudinal edges diverging in a direction away from the handle and being sharpened to form cutting elements, said wings having free rounded and sharpened ends defining an acute angled cusp-like recess with the outer end of said groove, said wings being both disposed at one side of the plane of said blade and handle, said recess having a sharp apex in the plane of said blade for receiving and cutting cuticle raised up by the rounded ends of said wings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 714,086 Woods Nov. 18, 1902 729,898 Rubens June 2, 1903 1,113,168 Henkel Oct. 6, 1914 2,801,640 Steele Aug. 6, 1957 

